The truth about fillings: a job description

Author: Dr Alexandra Jones, Co-Founder and Board Chair

Fillings are one of the most common treatments in dentistry, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood. They don’t cure decay, they don’t address the underlying disease processes, and they definitely don’t replace the magic of enamel.

So, to help explain their real role and why prevention matters, we’ve written the job description every filling would have if the mouth had an HR department.

About the team

Welcome to the most hardworking team in the human body, Team Mouth. We operate in a high-pressure, high-moisture, bacteria-rich environment. Our teammates include:

• Enamel: the OG of natural armour, millions of years in R&D

• Dentine: the supportive underlayer with a big job keeping things strong yet flexible

• Gums: the frontline defense squad

• Saliva: the ultimate multitasker (cleansing, buffering, protecting)

• The TMJs: a jaw, unto themselves

• The human: whose habits, life circumstances, diet, stress levels and environment directly influence the whole workplace

We are the entry foyer for the rest of the building, even the air must pass us. We are outward facing yet inward directing, combining beauty, form and function. Together, we support eating, speaking, smiling, kissing, laughing and living life pain-free. No pressure!

And now…we’re hiring.

Role title

Dental Filling (Junior-Senior depending on cavity size)

Purpose of the role

To step in when enamel and dentine have been irreversibly damaged (by any one of the background processes that can befall those guys) and restore the tooth so it can keep doing its job.

Think of it as a structural and functional support role. You’re not here to fix the disease. You’re here to patch up the consequences of it.

While we appreciate your ability to mimic the natural structure, strength and function of healthy teeth, we know there’s nothing like the real thing. That’s why we work in collaboration with the prevention department to help the human maintain their oral health, and prevent the need for restorative treatments.

Key responsibilities

1. Protect the tooth

Form a tight seal with zero gaps, because bacteria are tiny and rude. Withstand daily exposure to a literal microbial soup.

2. Handle pressure

Endure significant bite forces, thousands of times a day. Maintain structural integrity over many years. Ideally, time any failure for after the tooth’s owner no longer needs you (long-term succession planning encouraged).

3. Be low-key

Blend seamlessly with natural teeth. Match colour, shape and shine. Avoid being noticed in selfies. Avoid that “having gone too far look” - you know what we mean.

4. Be efficient

Be quick, affordable and easy for clinicians to place. Keep the appointment short so the human can get on with their day. Don’t make matters worse by creating a burden.

5. Support identification

Remain stable enough to assist with post-mortem identification. It's an odd KPI, but we don’t write the rules!

What this role does not do

1. Cure tooth decay, dental erosion, or the processes that lead to wear and tear

Fillings don’t fix the disease, they simply fix the damage. Tooth structure loss (including decay) is a process driven by daily habits, biology, and social and commercial factors.

Addressing the cause is handled by the prevention department. If the human relies on you as a filling to do it, then the problem tends to come back.

2. Turn back time

We know modern materials are incredible, but we also know you cannot recreate the exact properties of original tooth structure. You’re restoring form and function, you can relax, as an employer we’ve got realistic expectations. R and D are still hard at work to try and change this.

3. Replace prevention

Your role is a response, not a solution to the original problem. It’s the prevention department’s role to address underlying risk factors like sugar exposure, low saliva, dry mouth medications, access barriers, stress, diet, and limited oral health support.

4. Thrive equally in all mouths

Different people exist in different environments. Bruxism, acid reflux, dry mouth, high-stress lifestyles, low access to support, ultra-processed foods, and socioeconomic stressors all influence how long you last.

Why this role is so tough

Let’s be honest, the position description is a bit outrageous. You're being asked to:

• Survive in a mouth attached to a human

• Fight off bacteria

• Handle load-bearing work

• Stay strong, invisible but beautiful (we do have ethical concerns about that one too!)

• Be affordable

• Last for a lifetime

Natural tooth tissues had millions of years to evolve and even they still struggle sometimes. Given all that, we know fillings do a pretty great job. We are here to support you. So please apply!

A note from management (aka FRED)

Fillings matter, but they’re just one small part of a much bigger system.

To truly prevent disease and keep teeth strong for life, we need:

• A greater focus on prevention and oral health promotion

• Oral health to be integrated into primary health care

• Culturally safe services that empower humans

• Reduced costs and access barriers

• Policies that address the social and commercial determinants of health

That’s the real workforce behind lifelong oral health!